British medical journal (Clinical research ed.)
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The handling of death in a special care nursery and the needs of bereaved parents were studied in 12 families. Communication was good before death but less satisfactory thereafter, particularly with regard to postmortem results and advice concerning recurrence risk. Parents needed a lasting memory of their child and attached great importance to a tangible memento. ⋯ All in the high scoring group favoured bereavement counselling. Communication with general practitioners needed improvement. As a result of this study a protocol for the handling of death was designed.
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Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) · Jul 1984
Incidence and estimated need of caesarean section, inguinal hernia repair, and operation for strangulated hernia in rural Africa.
Numbers of caesarean sections, inguinal hernia repairs, and operations for strangulated hernia performed in 1979-81 at 10 rural hospitals in eastern Africa were matched against estimated populations in the respective catchment areas. Annual rates of each operation varied considerably between hospitals, the averages being: for caesarean sections 25 per 100 000 per year; for inguinal hernia repairs 25 per 100 000 per year; and for operations for strangulated hernia four per 100 000 per year. ⋯ Numerous deaths and cases of permanent disability occur in remote rural villages because common conditions requiring urgent surgery are neither prevented nor properly cared for. A balanced improvement of both primary and secondary care in rural Africa is needed.